Third ACCA MENASA learning providers conference resounding success
Thursday, 3 July 2014 00:00
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The third Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) ACCA learning providers’conference was held in Sri Lanka recently. This initiative is a part of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)’s continued efforts to develop excellence in professional accounting education and establish best practices in the region by enhancing exam success and the skills of their tuition providers, leverage technology and strengthen business partnerships.
The Chief Guest at the conference was the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education Dr. Sunil Jayanatha Nawarathne, who stated that he was very pleased with ACCA for organising conferences of this nature. He added that it will pave the way for young people in our region to pursue and enjoy the best possible professional accounting education that will in turn enhance their career prospects.
The conference had a participation of over 200 learning partners and employers from eight different countries. Tuition providers from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iran, Dubai, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the sessions to address and discuss the common challenges and opportunities they currently face in the market and develop action plans to enhance tuition support to students.
The eminent panel of speakers comprised of ACCA Director Education Development Alison McHugh, ACCA MENASA Regional Director Stuart Dunlop, ACCA Head of Business Development – Education Mohammed Sajid Khan, IFAC Executive Director Professional Relations and CFO Russell Guthrie, ATC International Becker Professional Education Darek Bargiel, Kelaniya University Dr. P.M.C. Thilakerathne, BPP Rosauro Aala, Kaplan Financial Tony Unett, Google Sri Lanka Country Consultant Rohan Jayaweera and LCBS Dhaka Chairman and CEO M.A. Kalam.
Whilst an in depth insight was given on ACCA’s global objectives, key topics discussed at the conference included, producing work ready accountants to support economic growth and stability, strengthening partnerships, selling ACCA, the use of technology in the tuition process and examinations and digital marketing and its best practices and challenges.
The facilitators also gave their thoughts and analysis on exam techniques, best practices for teaching, assessment methodologies and the examiner feedback received on student exam performance. Forums were also held on identifying challenges and methods of how to initiate solutions to help improve exam performance in each of the respective subjects, providing many valuable insights that were very relevant to the challenges face by tuition providers in the region.
ACCA tuition providers from both Sri Lanka and the region who took part in the conference responded with enthusiasm and endorsed the conference as one that gave them guidance on all the important aspects that were both currently relevant and important.
Giving her thoughts on the conference, ACCA Sri Lanka Head Nilusha Ranasinghe stated, “We are very pleased about the high level of enthusiasm and interaction demonstrated by the participants at this year’sconference. It was a very rewarding experience to come together with so many of our strategic partners and strategise on how we can improve accountancy education in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region.”
